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2024 SPAR Grand Prix winner Glenrose Xaba
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At the glittering annual SPAR Grand Prix awards ceremony at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on 5 November , SA ’ s Glenrose Xaba walked off with the lion ’ s share of the prize money and accolades , thanks to her incredible year on the road in the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge series .
SPAR Grand Prix winner Glenrose Xaba has enjoyed the most successful year of her career so far , and is therefore laughing all the way to the bank , as they say . Xaba was the last South African to win the prestigious SPAR Grand Prix title in 2018 , and this year has succeeded in breaking the dominant streak of international athletes winning the South African series every year since 2019 , when international athletes were first allowed to enter the series .
Xaba received her prize money of R200,000 at the awards ceremony in Johannesburg on 6 November , as well as R75,000 for being the top South African on the SPAR Grand Prix final log . In addition , she was given the keys to a Proton SUV X50 to use for a year . “ I was determined to win the SPAR Grand Prix again , and I made a lot of sacrifices so I could win it ,” she said . “ For instance , in consultation with my mentor , Caster Semenya , I decided not to try to qualify for the Olympic Games , and to focus on the SPAR races instead . I am so grateful to Caster , and to my coach Violet Raseboya , who have encouraged and guided me this year .”
Podium Positions
After her incredibly successful year in the SPAR Challenge series , where she finished with a perfect score of 120 points from four races , winning each with maximum bonus points , Xaba went on to win the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon , breaking Gerda Steyn ’ s SA Record in her debut marathon . This year also saw Xaba break the long-standing SA Record for 10km , taking down the mark set by Elana Meyer as far back as 2001 , and mentor Semenya believes that there is more to come from Xaba : “ She ’ s determined , disciplined and takes instruction well , so I think she will still go very far .”
The three-time SPAR Grand Prix winner , Tadu Nare , finished third on the SPAR Grand Prix table , narrowly edged out by her Nedbank teammate and fellow Ethiopian Diniya Abaraya , who came second ( 112 points to 111 ). Abaraya received R100,000 and Nare R50,000 , and Abaraya also won the junior category . Cacisile Sosibo was fourth overall , with 72 points , and she also won R50,000 for being the second South African on the final leaderboard .
Proud Sponsor
Mpudi Maubane , SPAR National PR , Communications and Sponsorship Manager , congratulated Glenrose Xaba on winning the SPAR Grand Prix this year . “ SPAR is very proud of Glenrose and her efforts in becoming this year ’ s SPAR Grand Prix Champion . We recognise the hard work and dedication that she and the other top 10 athletes and age group category winners put into their success , and we salute them as leading athletes that inspire so many . We are grateful for these athletes , and the many thousands of athletes who took part in the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge series , and hope they encourage their friends to take part next year , so that together we can empower women and help develop road running in South Africa .”
Maubane also confirmed that SPAR would sponsor a bigger and better SPAR Grand Prix Series in 2025 . Details will be announced early next year .
Images : Reg Caldecott
Glenrose is handed her winner ’ s cheque by Mpudi Maubane of SPAR and James Moloi , President of Athletics South Africa
As winner of the Grand Prix , Glenrose will drive a Proton X50 vehicle for the next year
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